CONTENTS
Main aluminium parts P1 End sections P2 Adding the long rails P3 End plates P4 Centre Legs P5 Squaring P6 Fitting shelf runners (optional) P7 Assembling shelves (optional) P8 Fitting liner P9 Fitting handles P10 Fitting glass P11 Troubleshooting P12 Notes on using the frame P13
Date: Jan 2016 Rev 4 File: F3
Assembly instructions for models: FF3 (4ft) SF3 (6ft) EF3 (8ft) TF3 (10ft)
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS Cold Frames
Please keep all packaging until installation is complete
Access Garden Products Crick NORTHAMPTON NN6 7XS Tel: 01788 822301 Fax: 01788 824256 [email protected] www.garden-products.co.uk
Model FF3 shown
If you have purchased a Cold Frame Watering Kit, read the instructions
before assembling the frame.
Video instructions: Helpful video clips are available at
www.garden-products.co.uk/instructions
MAIN ALUMINIUM PARTS P1
Long Rails FF3 SF3 EF3 TF3
Tee rail 1 1 1 1
Top side rail 2 2 2 2
Bottom side rail 2 2 2 2
End parts FF3 SF3 EF3 TF3
End plate 4 4 4 4
End bracket 2 2 2 2
Bottom rail 2 2 2 2
Support Strap 1 1 1
Leg parts FF3 SF3 EF3 TF3
Front leg 4 6 6 6
Top leg 4 6 6 6 Additional Items Value Cold Frame
FF3 SF3 EF3 TF3
Handle 585mm 4 6 8 10
Screw pack SCREW-P2 1 1 1 1
Black channel liner W65-5M 1 2 2 2
White channel liner W66-4M 1 1 2 2
Fro
nt L
eg
Top leg
End kick rail
End Bracket
End plate
Kick r
ail
Tee r
ail
Side r
ailSupport strap
NOTE: If you purchased the optional watering kit refer to those instructions before assembling the fame.
End bottom rail
Top s
ide ra
il
Botto
m sid
e rail
P2 END SECTIONS
Slot the side and top legs together Make up the LEFT hand end as shown. Make up the RIGHT hand end (NOT SHOWN)
1
2
3
DO NOT FULLY TIGHTEN BOLTS AT THIS STAGE
Some parts are left handed orright handed.
Do not put boltsin these holes
EXPLODED VIEWOF SIDE AND TOPLEGS
FINISHED LEFT HAND END
Top legs
Front legs
End bottom rail
YOU ALSO NEED:
10mm BOLTS 4
NUTS 4
Located in pack: SCREW-P2
PARTS NEEDED FOR EACH END
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Use 20mm bolt
Use 20mm bolt
ADDING THE LONG RAILS P3
PARTS NEEDED
DO NOT FULLY TIGHTEN BOLTS AT THIS STAGE
Bolt on the rails in the order shown. 1
Tee r
ail
Top
side r
ails
Botto
m sid
e rails
YOU ALSO NEED:
10mm BOLTS 12
20mm BOLTS 4
NUTS 16
Located in pack: SCREW-P2
Access
end plate
P4 END PLATES
PARTS NEEDED FOR EACH END
DO NOT FULLY TIGHTEN BOLTS AT THIS STAGE
washer
washerD
C
B
D
D
A
C
CA
B
A
B
washer
E
E
E
E
EE
IF YOU HAVE A 4’ LONG MODEL GO TO PAGE 6
'Access' sticker
Access
End bracket x 2
Completed end
End Bracket
spacer
spacer
spacer
Remove any plastic protective film from the end plates and put ‘Access’ sticker on. Bolts 'A' and ‘C’ go through the end plate THEN have a 3mm white spacer fitted BEFORE fitting to the frame.
Bolts ‘B’ and ‘D’ only go through the end plate and the frame. Bolts ‘E’ go through the end plate THEN have a 3mm white spacer fitted. THEN push the end bracket over the bolts and fit the nuts. One end plate will have a large hole in. Fit the black grommet into this hole. Repeat for the other end
1
2
3
4
5
6
YOU ALSO NEED:
10mm BOLTS 6
NUTS 6
3mm WHITE SPACER 4
BLACK GROMMET 2
Located in pack: SCREW-P2
CENTRE LEGS P5
2
1
1
USE 20mm BOLT
1
1
CENTRE LEGSPRIOR TO FITTING
Fit legs as shown into frame.
Fit centre support strap as shown. If the strap seems slightly too short, pull upwards on the tee rail at the centre point. This will bring the fixing holes slightly closer together.
1
2
Support strap
Top legs
Front legs
YOU ALSO NEED:
10mm BOLTS 8
20mm BOLTS 2
NUTS 10
Located in pack: SCREW-P2
P6 SQUARING
11
1Access
Use a sheet of glass to square the unit up as shown. Slacken the nuts if necessary to move the framework into a square position. Page 11 gives instructions on how to fit the glass sheets into the frame. Remove glass once squaring is complete. Once the frame is completely square tighten up all the bolts.
1
To check the squareness of the end, slide end glass in from front corner, slacken end plate bolts if necessary
SHELVING P7 FITTING SHELF RUNNERS (optional) P7
PARTS NEEDED
1 SHELF RUNNERSBolt a shelf runner onto eachof the legs using 20mm bolts.The w hite nylon spacer is f ittedbetw een the leg and the runner.
Shelves can be fitted at each end. On 6’, 8’ and 10’ models, two more shelf sets can be fitted to the centre legs.
White nylon spacers
Shelf
runner
YOU ALSO NEED:
20mm BOLTS 4
NUTS 4
Located in pack: SURG
SHELVING P7 P8 SHELF ASSEMBLY (optional)
Lightly tap rawlplug inserts into both ends of the tubular aluminium shelf rods with a hammer. Slide the two hooks onto the tube, as shown then screw the support bracket on at each end.
Fit the other rods to the shelf.
1
2
3
Note: A Pozidrive screwdriver will fit the screws best
FITTING
use adjacent holes
Hook support wire into top hole, then swing shelf upward into the adjacent hole below.
Standard Shelf Wide Shelf
2 Fit the shelves across theend of the frame, on to theshelf runners
PARTS NEEDED
support brackets
supportwires
alumi
nium
tubes
The large number of holes on the runner allow the spacing of the shelves to be easily altered. When the shelves are not needed they can either be removed or they can be unhooked from the lower fixing hole and hung flat using the wires.
Fit the shelves across the end of the frame, on to the shelf runners 4
Sh
elf ro
ds
YOU ALSO NEED PER SHELF ROD:
RAWLPLUG 2
1” WOOD SCREW 2
Located in packs: S-V
Bottom shelf hung flat against the back
FITTING THE LINER P9
FITTING THE CHANNEL LINER
To make the top glass slide more easily, rub candle wax onto the glass bearers. Also wax the black and white liners.
TIP: Before sticking the tape, clean the aluminium of any oil traces to promote adhesion.
The white liner (W66-4M) fits on the inside vertical face of each side rail only. This is a loose fit so strips of double sided tape are included to secure it until the glass is in place.
1
1
2
3
2 The black plastic liner (W65-5M) goes in the side bottom rails (not end rails). Using the strips of double sided tape press liner down so that it LIES FLAT at the bottom of the channel - trim with a knife if necessary.
THE DOORS WILL NOT SLIDE PROPERLY IF THE LINER IS NOT FLAT
3 WAX
LINER
1
LINER
2
FITTING THE HANDLES
FITTING THE HANDLES
First wipe the edge of the glass where the handle will fit with a wet cloth. Then slide the handle over the edge of the glass, starting at the top corner of the handle. Place the handle 15mm from the top edge of the glass.
16
0m
mtop edge ofglass pane
handle
TIP: Do not try and slide the handle on from the top or bottom
1
2
FF3 SF3 EF3 TF3
Sheets requiring handles 4 6 8 10
15
mm
Work the handle fully onto the glass.
DO NOT lift the glass by the handle
Always grip the handle in the CENTRE when sliding
When fitting the handles, place the glass on a table or timber battens. Never place the glass directly onto concrete or slabs.
WARNING! Toughened glass if broken will fragment safely.
If the edges are knocked or chipped the glass will spontaneously
fragment. This is a natural occurrence due to the toughening
process. Care should be taken when moving or cleaning, not to
damage the edge of the glass.
When placing the glass in the frame, ensure that the glass is
securely placed in the runners before letting go of the glass.
optio
nal
hand
le
optio
nal
hand
le
hand
le
hand
le
handle
no handle
optio
nal
hand
le
optio
nal
hand
le
no handle
no handle
no handle
NOTE: If you purchased a louvre vent, fit it now.
GLASS FF3 SF3 EF3 TF3
610mm x 610mm 12 16 20 24
P10
FITTING THE GLASS P11
FITTING HANDLES Fit the handles to the side glass before fitting into the frame. Ensure the handles are always on the left hand side of the glass. FITTING THE GLASS To fit the glass push the sheet into the deeper top channel, then lower into the bottom channel (E). Make sure the glass is firmly in the bottom channel before letting go. The main illustration shows the glass side by side for clarity. When putting the sheets in the frame, start at the left hand end. The glass panels overlap each other by approx 15mm - 30mm. To open the frame the glass should slide over the adjacent pane. The channel is only wide enough to take two sheets of glass side by side. Roof sheets will slide if additional ventilation is required, however access into the frame is via side glass sheets. Roof sheets have no handles (optional handles are available). END SHEETS Slacken the four lower end plate bolts then gently slide the glass into place from the corner. The glass is held between the framework and the end plate (A). Then gently slide the other sheet in from the other corner. The two sheets will overlap behind the end bracket (B). The bolts on the end plates can then be gently tightened.
End glass detail
glass
end plate
spacer
bolt
end kick
infill plate
end glassbracket
glassglass
End glass fitting detailB. End glass overlap detail A. End glass detail
glass bracket
bottom rail
end plate
E. Fitting the glass
P12 TROUBLESHOOTING
GLASS STICKS TOGETHER This is normally due to the handles not being put on the correct side of the glass. See page 10 for details of where the handles should be fitted to the glass. The top glass will not slide when wet, unless optional full length glass handles are fitted.
HANDLES COME OFF As the handles are of a clamp design they can be pulled off if too much force is applied to them. If the glass has stuck together due to moisture, or if the glass does not slide smoothly, this will strain the handle and cause it to come off. Ensure that the channels and the glass are kept clean at all times to minimise the sliding force needed. Candle wax applied to the channel and the underside of the glass will also help the sliding action. Also check that the handles have been fitted correctly. See page 10 for full instructions. If handles come off frequently either purchase some new handles from Access or use a glue such as 'liquid nails' or 'no more nails' to permanently glue the handles to the glass.
NOTES ON USING YOUR FRAME P13
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE Every Spring take the glass out of the greenhouse and wash glass and framework with warm soapy water. When inserting the glass, always check that the glass is properly seated in its top and bottom channels before letting go of the sheet. CHECK THE TIGHTNESS of all bolts regularly, especially in very windy areas or powder coated frames. CROP ROTATION Suggestions for suitable crops and sowing dates given in the free Access Growing Guide VENTILATION In cold weather gentle ventilation can be given by sliding the front sheets of glass to give 2-3" (5-8cm) gap at each corner. In warmer weather allow a gap on the top sheets as well. In very hot weather open all the sheets of glass. To ensure that the correct temperature is maintained use a thermometer inside the greenhouse. You can completely remove the top sheets in summer. GALES The greenhouse must be kept fully closed in rough weather. GLASS CHANNELS Ensure that this is kept free from debris and allows the glass to slide smoothly. Periodically lubricate the running edge of the glass with a wax candle. SNOW If snow is very heavy - avoid letting it build up on the roof OPTIONAL SHELVING Stand pot plants on saucers, or use optional shelf covers which incorporate a layer of capillary matting to absorb excess water when watering. Alternatively, stand the pots in empty seed trays. SITING Site on the sunniest place available. Anything from East through South to West is suitable. If it has to face North, don't despair, it will be warmer in than outside! REDUCING THE LENGTH If it is just too long for your ideal spot, it can be shortened. Re-drill the holes at one end of the rails - moving them in by the amount you need to remove. Hacksaw off the surplus aluminium and shorten the shelf rods. The glass will merely overlap more - don't try to cut toughened glass!